Enjoy summer reading on the cheap

Although no one advocates the value of a good book more than a newspaper writer, there are ways to enjoy that summer beach read on the cheap.

From websites devoted to finding free digital books to special library sales, here are some ideas for cutting your book budget without cutting your reading time.

Summer reading clubs

Libraries are the best source for frugal readers, and many local branches offer summer reading programs for both adults and children.

For every library book read Monday, June 24 through Wednesday, July 31, adults ages 18 and older can enter drawings at Newport News library branches. Children and teens can sign up for a similar reading challenge during the same time period to win a prize after reading a certain number of books.

The Williamsburg Regional Library offers a similar program, with registration beginning June 10. Find more information at wrl.org/books-and-reading/youth/summer-reading-programs.In York County, there is a summer reading program with prizes for children, teens and adults that runs from June 24 to Aug. 2 this year. For information, go to http://www.yorkcounty.gov/library and click on Summer Reading in the left rail. Check with your local library branch for other summer programs.

Barnes and Noble offers a free book to children who read and record eight books. Download the reading log at barnesandnoble.com.

Children who complete the Chuck E. Cheese reading calendar will receive 10 free tokens. (And, for the record parents, there are other printable reward calendars, such as "Table Manners" and "Clean Room"). Find those calendars at chuckecheese.com/discover/rewards-calendars.

Scholastic offers an online summer reading challenge at scholastic.com that rewards students for the number of minutes they spend reading. Earn points and be entered into sweepstakes contests.

Find digital freebies

Finding free books for a Kindle or Nook device is rather easy, and there are plenty of websites that point you to daily offers.

Bookbub.com, for example, allows readers to sign up for a daily email newsletter that alerts subscribers to free and discounted books in the genre of your preference. Bestselling titles are periodically featured.

The online book catalog, Project Gutenberg, offers more than 36,000 free books available for download on your computer, Kindle, iPhone, iPad, Android or other portable device. Most of the books are available because the copyright has expired, so look for classic titles such as "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen or "David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens.

Publishers, authors and publicists have stacks of free books waiting for a good home.

Publishing giant Random House offers readers an early look at a select group of books through its "Read it Forward" program. Readers can sign up for free offers at randomhouse.com/crown/readitforward. The program sends out books on a first-come-first-served basis, so check your email often for new book offerings.

Swap

The used book store Paperbacks Ink in Newport News allows customers to bring in their books to receive store credit. If the books are in good condition, the store will pay you 25 percent of the back cover price in store credit. They will only accept hardback books if there is no paperback version available. There is a 10 cent fee for each book you want to trade, whether the book is accepted or not.

"So, if you bring in 250 books for possible trade, you will pay a $2.50 fee," says Joan Klinedinst, an employee at the store.

If you're just shopping, used books are discounted 40 percent off their original price.

"If you buy a book from us at the 40 percent discount, you can return it to us and we will give you 25 percent of the original price," says Klinedinst. "It's a great savings."

Paperbacks Ink is located at 11710 Jefferson Ave, Newport News. Call 873-1211 for more information.

There are a number of book trading Web sites. Among the most popular sites are paperbackswap.com, bookmooch.com and frugalreader.com. All three sites operate in a similar manner. When you post your books to the Web site and mail them to other members, you earn points that can be used toward new books.

It's free to register with these trading Web sites, but you must pay to ship your books to other members (usually around $2.50).

Library sales

In addition to loaning out book titles for free, most local libraries also have used book stores where books sell for 50 cents to $2 each. Many libraries also host periodic book sales at deeply discounted prices.

The next sale will take place at the West Avenue Library in Newport News June 20-22. The sale runs noon to 4 p.m. Thursday, June 20, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22.

Prices are 25 cents for children's books and VHS tapes, 50 cents for paperbacks, $1 for CDs and DVDs and $1 to $3 for hardbacks. Collectibles and special interest items are individually priced. From 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, shoppers can fill a bag for $3, and standard paperbacks are 10 cents or 12 for $1.

West Avenue Library is located at 2907 West Ave., Newport News.

The next library book sale in Hampton will take place on Sept. 18.

There is a Best of Friends Gift Shop at the Main Library in Hampton where paperback books are 50 cents and hardbacks cost $2.

"My good friend Susan Edmonson and I go down (to the library book store) every Thursday afternoon and restock the shelves," says Dibba Hamilton, a library volunteer. "There are a lot of fiction books, great beach reads in paper and hardback, cookbooks, biography and more."

The book sale at the Williamsburg Regional Library takes place once a year in April.